Douglas Trathen: Difference between revisions

Trathen was born in [[Petersham, New South Wales|Petersham]] and was educated at [[Canterbury Boys' High School]].<ref>[httphttps://wwwcanterburb-h.schoolwebsitesschools.comnsw.gov.au/webabout-our-school/Defaultalumni.aspx?PageID=474&SiteID=29html Canterbury Boys' High School -– Notable Alumni] Retrieved 7 December 2018.</ref> He attended the [[University of Sydney]] and graduated in [[Bachelor of ArtsEconomics|artseconomics]] and [[theologyBachelor of Arts|arts]] including theology. After university he was ordained, becoming minister of the Reid Methodist Church in [[Reid, Australian Capital Territory]], before serving in [[World War II]] with the [[RAAF]] as a chaplain. From 19early February 19431942 he served part-time as the chaplain of RAAF Station Canberra (now known as [[Fairbairn, Canberra]]) before becomingbeing acalled up for full-time service in July 1943, becoming chaplain with [[No. 8 Squadron RAAF]], servingwith which he served in Queensland and New Guinea until his tour ended at the end of May 1944. He later served with [[No. 8 Operational Training Unit RAAF]] at [[Parkes, New South Wales]] and No. 58 Operational Base Unit RAAF in the Northern Territory. He was discharged in December 1945.<ref>RAAF service record, A9300, TRATHEN D A, National Archives of Australia, Canberra.</ref>

After the war, Trathen resumed his responsibilities as a Methodist minister, moving with his wife to [[Wingham, New South Wales]] in 1946.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168523417 |title=Methodist Conference. |newspaper/article/168523417?searchTerm=trathen%20methodist&searchLimits[[The Wingham Chronicle And Manning River Observer]] |location=sortbyNew South Wales, Australia |date=dateAsc19 March 1946 |accessdate=7 December 2018 ||l-decadepage=1944 |||l-yearvia=1946National Library of Australia}}</ref> The following year, Trathen was transferred to a church at [[Corrimal, New South Wales]].

In January 1950, Trathen accepted his first school leadership position, when he was approached to become the Principal of [[Kinross Wolaroi School|Wolaroi College]] in [[Orange, New South Wales|Orange]]. He was described at the time as "a young man of fine gifts and extensive experience. He will bring to his new position a keen interest in Christian education, and qualifications that should make him a worthy successor to ... the retiring Principal."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155613200 |title=WOLAROI COLLEGE, ORANGE |newspaper/article/155613200?searchTerm=trathen%20methodist%20wolaroi&searchLimitsThe Methodist |volume=sortby59 |issue=dateAsc3 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=28 January 1950 |l-decadeaccessdate=195|7 December 2018 |page=2 |l-yearvia=1950National Library of Australia}}</ref> Trathen House, a boarding facility, is named in his honour at Kinross Wolaroi School.<ref>[https://www.kws.nsw.edu.au/uploaded/documents/Boarding_docs/TRATHEN_HANDBOOK_2018_(Final)_2.pdf Boarding Handbook – Kinross Wolaroi School] Retrieved 7 December 2018.</ref>

In 1963, Trathen commenced duties as Headmaster of [[Newington College]]. His obituary in the ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' states that: "At Newington, he quickly clashed with the establishment ... he sought to broaden the macho sports-oriented base of the school. His ideals were worthy, but his dogmatism alienated many. Interested in philosophy, he did not fit the image of a man's man." In June 1970, at the height of the political crisis about Australia's involvement in the [[Vietnam War]], Trathen wrote a letter to the Herald speaking out against [[conscription]] and calling on young men to defy the [[National Service Act 1964|National Service Act]]. He wrote: "I am loth indeed to be forced publicly to advocate (non-violent) [[civil disobedience]] ... As an ex-serviceman, a private citizen and a man of law and Law, I publicly encourage 20-year-olds, in good conscience and in loyalty to God rather than Caesar, to defy the National Service Act. [[John Gorton|Mr Gorton]] and members of Cabinet, for God's sake, stop." The letter was signed followed in brackets by: "The writer is the Headmaster of Newington College." <ref>[httphttps://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19700617&id=TVIVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1511,5423664 Sydney Morning Herald -– June 17th 1970]</ref> The council of the college took issue with the letter and endeavoured to sack him but the conference of the Methodist Church supported him. Trathen was prosecuted for inducing citizens to break the law and although no conviction was recorded he was placed on a good behaviour bond.<ref>[httphttps://books.google.com/books?id=PADGoqzML7wC&pg=PA279&ots=x0oGYARyjF&dq=%22douglas+trathen%22&sigpg=4IRXwXPlFl2bAqm57QmJItf5kn4#PPA279,M1PA279 A Nation at War: Australian Politics, Society and Diplomacy During the Vietnam War 1965-19751965–1975 by Peter Edwards]</ref><ref>{{Citation | title=Biographical cuttings on Douglas Arthur Trathen, Reverend, headmaster, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals | date=1998 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/35884135 | accessdate=7 December 2018 }}</ref>

He resigned from Newington in September of that1970 year and went on to work in education in both the state and federal spheres. beforeHe hiswas retirementappointed as head of Religious Studies at the Australian Schools Commission. He moved to Canberra retiring in 1978. Relations improved with Newington College and he visited the college in 1988 as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations. His portrait in oils by [[Bryan Westwood]] hangs in the Prescott Hall. Trathen died in [[Murwillumbah, New South Wales|Murwillumbah]], survived by his wife, [http://www.willoughbydhs.org.au/History/People/Herbert.html Irven (née) Herbert], and four children.

* David Macmillan, Newington College 1863-19631863–1963 (Syd, 1963)

* Peter Swain, Newington Across the Years 1863-19981863–1998 (Syd, 1999)

{{s-ttl|title=Headmaster<br />[[Newington College]]|years=1963-19701963–1970}}

{{s-aft|after=[[Anthony James Morell Rae|Tony Rae]] AM}}